Mining apparatus



Aug. 24 1926. 1,597,005

E. BALL ET AL MINING APPARATUS Filed' Mav 29, 1922 INVENTOR. DW/Nfi/ILL. CLARE/VCEEABBQTYI TORNEY.

Patented Au 24, 1926.

NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN BAIL, OF BIRMINGHAM, D CLARENCE E. ABBOTT, OI BESSEHER, ALABAMA.

MINING APPARATUS.

Application filed Kay 28,

Our invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in means for transferring loose material and while capable of use 1922. Serial 1%. 564,485.

and the chute 24" is supported in an inchnedposltion as shown in Fi .3 so that the material can be pulled up by t e scraper and in man situations in transferring loose ma-. discharged into the tram car 28.

5 terial rom one point to another, it is particularly adapted for use in mining iron ore or other material lying in either a horizontal or'an inclined plane.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. land 2 are a plan and side elevation respectively of a drag scraper embodying our invention;

Our improved apparatus herein described "is particularly useful in mining operations carried on according to the aforesaid method, but is not limited to use in connection with such method of operation. 7

Our improved apparatus in general terms :0 comprises a drag scraper and means for moving the same backward and forward in substantially the same path and means for guiding the material conveyed into a tram car or the like.

In Fig. 1 the scraper is shown operating in an inclinedpassage-way or mine upset l6 and the scraper 20 is shown working in the level 10 on a substantially horizontal surface. As the stoping proceeds in the upset 16 the ore is thrown down to the surface and the scraper 20 is pulled by means of an inhaul cable 22 toward a chute 24 carried on suitable timbers 26and projecting over a tram car 28 which is movable along the tracks 12 in the level. To the rear end of the scraper is secured an outhaul cable 30 which passes through suitable guide sheaves 32 and 34 anchored to the face of the upset or to suitable timbers or any other fixed support. The inhaul cable is secured to a winding drum 36 and the outhaul cable 30 is secured to a similar drum 38, these drums bein driven through gearing hereinafter descri ed by a motor 40 carried by the windin engine 42 45 which is movable along the trac 14 in the level 10. The scraper 20 is hauled inwardly by means of a drum 36 carried on the winding engine 42 and is withdrawn by a drum 38 to which the outhaul cable 30 is secured, this cable passes around guide sheaves 44, 46 and 48. The inhaul cable 22 passes around a guide sheave 50 located in front of the winding drum 36. The scraper 20 is adapted to travel along a substantially horizontal floor at the face of the level 10,

Both the scrapers 20 and 20 are. arranged to be moved forwardly and backwardly in substantial] the same path. It will be appreciated i the engine 42 is moved to the right or the left the path of the scraper can be corres ondingly changed to gather ma-' terial in ifierent parts of the upset 16. Furthermore, the position of the guide sheave 32 canbe changed from time to time to meet varyiing conditions. In a similar way the pat of the scraper 20 can also be varied by changing the position of the guide sheaves 46 and 48 asjwill be understood. At the time of changing the path of either of the scrapers it is of course understood that the chute 24 may be correspondingly moved if necessary.

Referring in detail to the drawings the scra r'which is understood by numeral 20 is 0 improved construction and is particularly adapted for rough work such as is encountered in mining operations. It is provided with means whereb it will be .prevented from riding over t e material to .be handled and is so formed that it is well ada ted for"use on inclined surfaces as in mining upsets or stopes. As shown in Fig. 1 the scraper comprises side walls 52 which converge from the rear toward the front and are einforced at the to) and bottom edges by means of bars 54 an 56 which are secured by suitable rivets 58 to said side walls. The side walls are held in spaced relatonship by a bale-like stiffener or cross-bar 59. The rear of each side wall is curved as at 60 and a transversely extending rear wall 61 of curved formation is secured by means of suitable rivets 62 to said side walls, re nforcing angles 64 being bent to a curve to correspond with the shape of the wall and being adapted to reinforce the joint. EX- tending downwardlg and forwardly from the rear wall 61 is a ottom wall 66 to which is secured a series of downwardly and forwardly inclined teeth 68 which are bevelled at 70 and 72 to form tapered portionswhich will readily dig into the loose material being gathered. Shackles 74 are adapted to be fastened to the forward end of the scraper by means of pins 76 inserted through any one of the several holes 7 8 formed at the forward end of the scraper. By changing the vertical position of the shackles 74 the inhaul cable can be secured for most eflicient operation according to the rade or incline of the surface over which t e scraper is to travel. Shackles 80 are secured to brackets 82 at the rear of the scraper. Suitable bridle chainscan be secured to the shackles 80 to 'connect the rear end of the scraper with an out haul cable and similar bridle chains can be secured to the shackles 74 to connect the forward end of the scraper with a suitable inhaul cable.

' Though we have described with great particularity the details of the apparatus herein shown, it is not to be construed that we are limited thereto as changes in arrangement and substitution of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What we claim is:

In a mining apparatus a scraper for handhng loose material comprising side walls having top and bottom converging reinforcing bars secured thereto, a transverse brace secured to the forward end of said side walls by fastenings which pass through said reinforcing bars, said scraper having a curved rear wall and a flat downwardly and forwardly extending bottom wall with a plu rality of teeth secured to and projecting downwardly and forwardly therefrom.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

EDWIN BALL.

CLARENCE E. ABBOTT. 

